Illuminated clock



July 23, 1935. J. SCHMIDT 2,008,930

ILLUMINATED CLOCK Filed Jan. 27, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1935. J. SCHMIDT 2,008,930

ILLUMINATED CLOCK Filed Jan. 27, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 QWITCH TRANSFORMER ATTORNEY July 23, 1935.

J. SCHMIDT 2,008,930

ILLUMINATED CLOCK Filed Jan. 27, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY July 23, 1935. SCHMIDT 2,008,930

ILLUMINATED CLOCK Filed Jan. 27, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MISUM 7704/ IN ENTOZ ATTORNEY Patented July 23, 1935 v Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ILLUMINATED cLooK Jakob Schmidt, Newark, NIJ.

Application January 27, 1934, Serial No. 709,145

3 Claims. (Cl. 58-50) This invention relates to improvements in illuof the resilient member for supporting symbols, minated clocks and sign devices and has for an Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views showing object the provision of means to enable the sym novel devices for connecting in series adjacent bols and hands. of the clock to be illuminated by vapor electric devices,

6 vapor electric illuminating devices. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the supporting A further object is the provision of a novel ar device shown in Fig. 11, illustrating the manner rangement of electrical contacts and a circuit in which a vapor electric device is supported and which enables the dial and rotating hands of the connected to a similarly supported adjacent declock to be illuminated by vapor electric devices vice.

without annoying sounds and hums such as here- Referring to the drawings, an illuminated l0 tofore have accompanied the operation of vapor clock is shown to include a tube I of a vapor electric devices. electric illuminating device, tube i being circular A further object is the provision of novel means in shape and having spaced opaque sections 2 to for detachably connectingin series a plurality of provide spaced translucent sections 3 to indicate vapor electric devices, which enables the conventhe minutes. Within the border formed by the 1 ient building up of words on an illuminated sign. tube I is mounted a tube 4 of a vapor electric A further object is the provision of a novel reilluminating device, which tube 4 is shaped at silient support for vapor electric illuminating despaced intervals to provide symbols to indicate vices in the form of letters and symbols, which hours from 1 to 12. support comprises a sheet of suitable material, The clock 5, see Fig. 9, is of the electric type 20 preferably flexible'or resilient, having slits thereand provided with a shaft 6 upon which is in through which portions of the vapor electric mounted the minute hand I, which is in the devices can be passed and held in position. form of a vapor electric illuminating tube bent These and other advantageous objects which back upon itself and having adjacent electrodes will later appear, are accomplished by the simple 8 and 9, which are respectively connected by 25 and practical construction and arrangement of wires lnb to spring contacts l0 and H, engaging, parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the respectively, slip rings l2 and I3. accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, The minute hand 7 and the contacts Ill and andinwhich: H are supported by a collar 62 of insulating Fig. l is an elevational view of an illuminated material fixed to shaft 5. 30 clock embodying my invention, The ring I3 is mounted upon the flange ll of Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a clock, with the tubular shaft l6 of insulating material, telethe face removed, showing details of electrical scoping the shaft 6 as shown in Fig. 4. Fixed connections and other mechanism. to the tubular shaft i6 is a collar 15 of insulating as Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectionof the device material upon which is mounted the hour hand shown in Fig. 1 taken with the hour and minute I1, the latter being in the form of a vapor electric hands indicating twelve o'clock. illuminating tube bent back on itself and having Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing adjacent electrodes 8 and 9. details of electrical contacts for the rotating The slipr ing I2 is integral with bars l8 which hands of the clock, pass through the collar IS, the bars being at- 40 Fig. 5 is a plan view of the underside of the tached to another slip ring l9 engaging a spring minute hand of the clock, contact 20, which is connected to an electrode of Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of the tube 4. Mounted on flange l4 and insulated Fig. 4, from slip ring I3 is a spring contact 22 which Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I-'I of engages a slip ring 23 mounted on the dial panel 45 Fi v W of the clock, the slip ring 23 being connected Fig, 8 is a perspective view showing the supby a wire 63 to a terminal of the transformer 2|. ports for the electrodes of the vapor electric de The electrodes of the hour hand are connected vice used for either the minute or hour hand, by wires Illa to the slip ring l3 and to the spring Fig. 9 is a wire diagram of the electrical circuit contact 22 as shown in Fig. 4. As stated above, 50

used in the illuminated clock, the spring contact 20 is connected to one elec- Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a modified trode of the vapor electric device 4 which is in form of the invention showing improved means series with the vapor electric device I having one for supporting the symbols, terminal connected to the transformer 2 I. From Fig. 11 is a perspective view partly in section a study of Fig. 9, it will be seen that the tubes I and 4 and the minute hand i and the hour hand I! are connected electrically in series, it having been found that this arrangement eliminates hum and disturbing sounds during the operation tions 25 between numerals as shown in Fig. 1.

When the clock above described is connected to a source of electrical power, the symbols and dial, and hands, will be illuminated and the clock 5 will be electrically operated. .By providing tubes l and 4 with different types of gases or vapors such as neon, argon or helium, various color combinations can be obtained.

In some instances, it is desirable that the symbols be mounted separately and not all confined to the same tube. In such a case each symbol will form a distinct vapor electric device 26', such as shown in Fig. 12, the electrodes of the symbols being in electrical contact with metal nipples 26 having flanges 27. The nipples 26 are adapted to be inserted into sockets 28 of telescoping members 29 and 30. AS shown in Fig. 13 a plurality of symbols can be readily connected in series by means of the nipples and the telescoping con'nectors 29 and 30, the latter enabling the distance between adjacent symbols to be adjusted.

In Fig. 11 is shown a device for conveniently mounting the symbols for the purpose of forming a sign or the like, the mounting device comprising preferably a relatively thick sheet SI of rubber or similar resilient material having slits 32 through which the electrode of the numeral or symbol can be passed, thus enabling the mounting of letters as shown in Fig. 10. When a plurality of letters have been mounted through the slits 32, they are connected in series and properly spaced by means of the telescoping connections 29 and 30, and the nipples 26, the flanges 21 on the nipples limiting the distance the electrodes can be passed through the slits 32, and also serving to hold the vapor electric devices in a stable condition, as shown in Fig. 14.

It will be noted that the slip ring it and the bars i8 carrying the slip ring I? are embedded in or stably attached to the flange i l of insulating material, this structure preventing the contacts from being loosened by jarring, and in= sures a positive tight contact at all times. The contacts attached to the hands are self-contained, enabling the hands to be readily assembled and removed without interfering with the rest of the apparatus. For example, should there be trouble with the minute hand, it could be removed and repaired without in any way i t fering with the hour hand and the remainder of the structure. The contacts are not exposed and consequently they are protected from disarrangement by disturbing elements such as jarring or the like.

The clock is independently connected to the main circuit and in the event of trouble with of the clock apparatus from the main circuit.

This feature is evidently made possible by the mounting' of the vapor electric lighting devices upon the panel or dial of the clock, which obviously is not dependent upon the actual clock mechanism.

By connecting the vapor electric lamps in series, overloading and the possibilities of short circuiting are prevented. This feature is of considerable importance when the devices are used out of doors where winds, rain, and other climatic conditions are likely to create such a situation, which may interfere with the emcient operation of the electrical devices.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a novel device for mounting nu merals and symbols formed from vapor electric illuminating devices, and also a novel means for readily and conveniently connecting a plurality of such devices in series, or otherwise, as may be desired.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including many modifications, with out departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an illuminated clock, a vapor electric illuminating tube or lamp of circular shape having a plurality of spaced translucent sections to indicate minutes, a second vapor electric lamp having a plurality of translucent portions formed to the shape of numerals to indicate hours, a third vapor electric lamp rotatable as a minute hand, a fourth vapor electric lamp rotatable as the hour hand, all of said vapor electric lamps being connected in series and a clock mechanism Minutes...

to rotate said third and fourth electric vapor lamps.

2. In an illuminated clock, a vapor electric illuminating tube or lamp rotatable as an hour hand, spaced slip rings mounted on said hour hand, a vapor electric lamp rotatable as the minute hand, spring contact members associated with the electrodes of said minute hand and engaging the slip rings on the hour hand, and means for' connecting said hour hand to a source of electrical current, said minute hand and said hour hand being connected in series.

3. In an illuminated clock, a vapor electric lamp having a plurality of tra islucent portions formed in the shape of symbols to indicate hours from 1 to 12, a second vapor e1 ictric lamp rotatable as a minute hand, a third vapor electric lamp rotatable as an hour hand, ail of said vapor electric lamps being connected in series, and a clock mechanism to rotate said second and third vapor electric lamps.

JAKOB SCHMIDT. 

